When I was seven months pregnant I wrote this item for the Ride, Run, Work Out blog:

Planning fitness regimen to shed baby weight

With eight weeks to go before the due date of my baby girl, I have a lot of things on my to-do list. I've been so focused on the countdown to Oct. 4 that I've thought of little else. However, I received an email from Track Shack last week that snapped me out of my pregnancy haze. It was a reminder about the IOA Corporate 5K on April 16, 2015: Registration opens Sept. 1. Yes, the race is 8 months away, but it made me realize that soon enough I will be able to hit the pavement for my morning runs. And by April -- or hopefully sooner -- I should be back in pre-baby shape, ready to take on and enjoy racing again.

This spurred some of my coworkers to laugh out loud. These were the parents. The ones that knew what I was about to experience. I can only imagine how many readers across Central Florida shook their heads knowingly at my ignorance.

I had to hassle him a bit this morning to lend me the jacket for "one day only, Mom" because he regularly wears it to school.

Fortunately, working in a newsroom allows for silly moments and outfits more than once in a while.

But, for me, wearing the jacket for a little bit was more than just a bet between mom and son.

I think it is important as a parent to put yourself in your child's shoes once in a while. See the world as he or she sees it. Take time to get in touch with your own 'inner child,' as the psychologists and therapists say, and take care of yourself.

Sure, it was embarrassing seeing company executives in the cafeteria this morning while getting my oatmeal.

But it felt good to let my guard down. To be silly and unashamed for a moment or two. To laugh. To make others laugh. To be childish.

When my 10-year-old asked for an email account so she could message her friend -- she doesn't yet have a phone so texting is out -- I thought it was sweet but silly. The girls are in the same class, live in the same neighborhood and see each other regularly. How much more conversation did the pair of 4th graders need?

Still, I set it up for her, and she happily began sending messages to her buddy via her Kindle or an old iPod. And she sent them to us. My husband got one that read, "I am eating breakfast," which he probably knew as he was standing in the kitchen when his phone buzzed.

But when she went on a sleepover, I realized email was a nice way to say, "Goodnight and I love you" without calling the friend's parents (which my independent girl would have hated). And when she missed a day of school, my kiddo used email to message her friend and get the week's spelling words.

The best part, though, was giving her my Dad's email address. He emails regularly, far more often than he...

I’m embarrassed to admit that my first day back was great. It was a mini-vacation from dirty diapers and crying fits. Baby Girl smiled at her new caregivers when I dropped her off at daycare. I gladly showed off pictures to those who asked. I was the proud momma on the outside and feeling guilty on the inside – guilty about how easy I was finding the separation. Baby Girl welcomed me home with a big smile and then fell into a peaceful sleep.

All my going-back-to-work worries as a first-time mom seemed unfounded.

Being a working mother was going to be a piece of cake ... if only I could shed the nagging feeling that I was I a terrible mom for enjoying my day without Baby Girl.

Then the second day came – and each day since – highlighting the difficulties of balancing work and baby.

It’s hard to carve out enough play time so I can get my fill of baby smiles and giggles.

I gave birth to a precious baby girl in October. To say it rocked my world is an understatement. I’ve never been so tired and scared. I’ve also never been so happy and felt so much love. Mostly, I am excited about the future (and not just a future that includes more sleep).

But first a bit about my past.

I've worked at the Orlando Sentinel for 14 years. My schedule and responsibilities have varied over the years. I've worked nights, weekends and holidays in both the news and features departments. I’ve worn many hats: design editor, copy editor, os.com homepage manager, fitness blogger.

Throughout the years, my husband and pets have graciously accepted my odd schedule.

When I went on maternity leave I didn't think about the Orlando Sentinel. I never once checked my work email. I had my hands full with a newborn. The goings-on at the Orlando Sentinel easily fell to the bottom of my list of priorities.

After twelve weeks off, I returned to a completely new Orlando Sentinel. But it isn’t...